Systems and Methods of Providing a Notched Cover

ABSTRACT

Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover include a lid for an underground vault for temporary use while the permanent lid to the underground vault is removed. In an example application, this underground vault lid would facilitate fiber maintenance in that the fiber optic cables may be maintained through the lid while protecting the public and the utility company employees from the danger of injury due to an “open hole in the ground” that is created when an underground vault is open. The disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched lid may include a temporary vault lid comprising a small opening relative to the size of the lid, the opening allowing the fiber optic cable to exit the vault while maintaining the pedestrian integrity of the vault lid, thereby reducing and/or eliminating the safety risk associated with the exposed vault.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/451,549, filed on Mar. 10, 2011, which is incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to utility systems and, moreparticularly, is related to a utility vault cover.

BACKGROUND

In the process of assessing the field dangers related to utility systemsand equipment maintenance, for example, in maintaining fiber operationsin the telecommunications systems, open covers during maintenanceoperations is a legitimate safety concern. It is typical to open thecover and cordon off the area for safety reasons. Permission forblocking off the area is generally requested from the appropriatemunicipal entity, and safety cones and/or rope, chain, warning tape, orother material is used to attempt to keep technicians, other people,animals, etc., from walking into the underground vault, which may be,for example, as large as three feet by five feet in some cases. Thereare heretofore unaddressed needs with previous solutions in providingsafety with access to the underground utility systems.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems ofproviding a notched cover. Briefly described, in architecture, oneexample embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented asfollows: a vault lid, the vault lid comprising a notched opening forproviding access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be viewed as providingmethods for providing a notched cover. In this regard, one embodiment ofsuch a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the followingsteps: removing a utility vault cover; and replacing the utility vaultcover with a temporary vault lid comprising a notched opening forproviding access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an underground vault with a one piececover.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of an underground vault with a multiple piececover.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of an underground vault with a multiple piececover with cables extended out of the vault.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of an example embodiment of a system ofproviding a single piece notched cover.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram of an example embodiment of a system ofproviding a multiple piece notched cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which likenumerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and inwhich example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forthherein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among otherpossible examples.

Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing anotched cover include a lid for an underground vault, which may bepedestrian-rated for example, for temporary use while the permanent lidto the underground vault is removed. In an example application, thisunderground vault lid would facilitate fiber maintenance in that thefiber optic cables may be maintained through the lid while protectingthe public and the utility company employees from the danger of injurydue to an “open hole in the ground” that is created when an undergroundvault is open. In other example applications, hoses, wires, and/or othermaintenance equipment may pass through the notch in the temporary lid.The disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched lid may includea temporary vault lid comprising a small opening relative to the size ofthe lid, the opening allowing the fiber optic cable to exit the vaultwhile maintaining the pedestrian integrity of the vault lid, therebyreducing and/or eliminating the safety risk associated with the exposedvault.

When maintenance personnel or technicians are performing work in thefield, a grate covers a vault containing equipment underneath asidewalk, street, or other area. Currently, there is a cordoned areathat the maintenance personnel may be required to implement to block offthe whole sidewalk based on regulations and/or restrictions. When thepermanent lid is removed to access the equipment, an open area iscreated that maintenance personnel use to access equipment in theunderground vault. If care is not taken to properly cordon of the openarea, a danger exists that people and/or animals could fall into theopen area. The area is left open for access to the vault so that cablesor other devices can pass through. Example embodiments of the disclosedsystems and methods of providing a notched cover are introduced so thatthe open area can now be covered, but the cables may still be runthrough the notch or opening to perform the work. There is no longer anopen hole, and the sidewalk is not closed down, among other advantages.

Materials for example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methodsof providing a notched cover may include cast iron, concrete, heavymetal, or hard plastic, among other suitable materials. The cover may besized to fit the present opening. The cover may also additionallycomprise an extra lip, to extend over the sides of the original hole toprovide additional stability. The cover may be translucent so thatambient light can pass through. The notch may be of many shapes,including rectangular, square, elliptical, oval, etc. The cover maycomprise a single notch, or multiple notches. The edges of the notch maybe rounded. The notch may also comprise a mechanism to help run thecable through such as a non-limiting example of a rolling mechanism toassist in pulling cables through the notch. The notched cover maycomprise two or more separable pieces with the notch in one piece or inmultiple pieces. The notches in multiple pieces may line up to becombinable.

In an alternative embodiment, the permanent lid/cover may include aremovable notch plate. When access to the underground vault is required,the notch may be removed from the permanent lid/cover, and the cables,wires, hoses, or other maintenance equipment may be passed through thenotched opening. The notch may be sized for the equipment used in theparticular application. Lids currently in use may be retrofitted toinclude a notch plate.

FIG. 1 provides a system drawing of utility vault 100 with opening 110and equipment 115. Permanent lid 120 fits over opening 110 to providesafety when equipment 115 is not in use and to provide access whennecessary. When access is necessary, permanent lid 120 is removed andutility vault 100 may become a safety hazard. Permanent lid 120 is asingle piece.

FIG. 2 provides a system drawing of utility vault 200 with opening 210and equipment 215. A permanent lid comprising first permanent lid piece220 and second permanent lid piece 230 fits over opening 210 to providesafety when equipment 215 is not in use and to provide access whennecessary. When access is necessary, the permanent lid comprising firstpermanent lid piece 220 and second permanent lid piece 230 is removedand utility vault 200 may become a safety hazard. Each piece of thepermanent lid comprising first permanent lid piece 220 and secondpermanent lid piece 230 is lighter and less cumbersome than a singlepiece permanent lid would be, enabling a technician to remove thepermanent lid with more ease than with a single piece lid.

FIG. 3 provides a system drawing of utility vault 300 with opening 310and equipment 330. Permanent lid 320 and second permanent lid piece 330fits over opening 310 to provide safety when equipment 330 is not in useand to provide access when necessary. When access is necessary,permanent lid 320 is removed, equipment 330 is extended outside ofutility vault 300 and utility vault 300 may become a safety hazard.

FIG. 4 provides a drawing of an example embodiment of a system ofproviding a notched cover. Lid 400 comprises notch opening 410. Anexample embodiment of lid 400 is a single piece and fits over theopening in the vault. Opening 410 allows the equipment such as cables inthe vault to extend outside the vault with lid 400 in place on thevault. Lid 400 may be sized to fit in the vault opening from where thepermanent lid was removed. Alternatively, lid 400 may fit over theopening and/or comprise a lip. Notched opening 410 may be located in thecorner or in any other location in lid 400. Lid 400 may be designed inany shape or size to provide safety by covering the top of the utilityvault while providing access to the equipment.

FIG. 5 provides a drawing of an example embodiment of a system ofproviding a notched cover. Lid 500 comprises notch opening comprisingopening 515 and 525. An example embodiment of lid 500 comprises aplurality of pieces 510 and 520. Lid 500 fits over the opening in thevault and the opening comprising opening 510 and 520 allows theequipment such as cables in the vault to extend outside the vault withlid 500 in place on the vault. Lid 500 may sized to fit in the vaultopening where the permanent lid was removed. Alternatively, lid 500 mayfit over the opening and/or comprise a lip. The notched openingcomprising opening 515 and 525 may be located where the pieces meet toprovide access to the equipment in the vault. Alternatively each of lidpiece 510 and 520 may comprise its own notch opening that does not meetthe opening of another lid piece. Lid 500 may be designed in any shapeor size to provide safety by covering the top of the utility vault whileproviding access to the equipment.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined by the appended claims.

1. A system comprising: a utility vault comprising utility equipment;and a vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to thevault with the lid in place on the vault.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the vault lid is a temporary vault lid used in place of apermanent vault lid.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the permanentvault lid does not have a notched opening.
 4. The system of claim 2,wherein the temporary vault lid is lighter than the permanent vault lid.5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid is a single piece. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein the notched opening is located in acorner of the vault lid.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lidcomprises a plurality of pieces.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thenotched opening is located in each of the plurality of pieces of thevault lid.
 9. A system comprising: a vault lid, the vault lid comprisinga notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid inplace on the vault.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid isa temporary vault lid used in place of a permanent vault lid.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the permanent vault lid does not have anotched opening.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the temporary vaultlid is lighter than the permanent vault lid.
 13. The system of claim 9,wherein the vault lid is a single piece.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the notched opening is located in a corner of the vault lid. 15.The system of claim 9, wherein the vault lid comprises a plurality ofpieces.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the notched opening islocated in each of the plurality of pieces of the vault lid.
 17. Amethod, comprising: removing a utility vault cover; and replacing theutility vault cover with a temporary vault lid comprising a notchedopening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on thevault.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the vault lid is a temporaryvault lid used in place of a permanent vault lid.
 19. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the permanent vault lid does not have a notchedopening.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the temporary vault lid islighter than the permanent vault lid.